The Game Of Life

Astra

The smell of incense burning clouded my already foggy mind.

"Mum, I need to study!" I called into the hall, pulling the door open with my foot. "Practice another time please?"

Mum's humming stopped and I heard sharp, quick, angry footsteps pattering toward my room. I slid the door shut as hard as I could but mum stuck her foot in before it closed, entering the room with a grim and threatening look on her face.  

"Astra Banks!" She reprimanded, "I cannot just practice another time. It is simply not done, the Leaders won't allow it! I might be hanged just for stopping midway! Or shot! Or strangled! Maybe..." She went on listing ways she could be killed. "Witches aren't even supposed to have families. Oh if only. If only I could go back and undo it. I..." I stopped listening. I wasn't going to sit about letting her abuse my entire existence.

My mum was convinced that she was a witch. That there were these magical forces called the Leaders who had chosen her. When he wasn't doing some crazy spell or incantation it something, she would be drinking. As she always said "alcohol makes witches better. But one must never do any sort of witchery when under the influence."

"I'm home!" Dad called, shutting the door with a loud thud behind him.

"About time. Getting sick of this girl..." Mum muttered as she stormed out if my room, pulling aside the bead curtains and sitting down to 'work' again.

"Hello, dad." I said softly, my heart beginning to thump in my fingers as I gripped the pencil I was holding harder. He can't be in a bad mood, he's better not be. Please. Please.

"What's for dinner?" He asked, stepping into my room.

"Dad, I have a lot of work plus two projects due this week and the exams start on Monday so... I don't think I can cook tonight." I said the last bit softly and fast, like ripping off a bandaid.

"You can't cook tonight? Oh I'm sure you didn't clean the house this morning before school either, did you?"

"No but that was because I had to get there early for extra credit. My grades are falling, dad, I don't know-"

"Did you clear my desk? Do the dishes? Please tell me you at least washed the clothes. Honestly, child, you never do as you're told. What will you do when you're an adult? That will have big consequences one day." He stomped out of my room, and went into the fridge scourging around for a breadstick or cheese puffs or something.

Yup that was my dad. Chief secretary of Laver. Powerful man. Used his daughter as a personal servant.

Anger bubbled inside me but I had to go cook, otherwise dad would hurt mum. As much as I hated her, I would hate myself more if I let anything happen to her.

I got up, putting aside my geography book, and went into the kitchen, the bead curtains petting my head as I went.

If twitter hadn't been made illegal I'd have one thing to say. #FML.

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by Codi